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International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)

| Project Background | Rationale | Objectives | Project District Profile | District Support Team | District Society | Activities & Achievement | Grading of Institution | Wealth Ranking | Training

PROJECT BACKGROUND

The Khawkylla Community Resource Management Society, Nongstoin, West Khasi Hills District has been working since 1999 under the project North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project for Upland Area Sponsored by International Fund for Agricultural Development and Ministry of Home Affairs, (now under Ministry of DONER), Govt. of India through North Eastern Council (NEC).

The district society has been implementing the project activities through the Development Support Team, which is led by the Project Manager along with 8 partner NGOs. At present, the KCRMS is working in 162 villages covering approximately 6900 households in 18 clusters falling under 6 Community and Rural Development blocks viz. Nongstoin, Mairang, Mawkyrwat, Mawshynrut, Mawthadraishen and Ranikor. In this financial year during April-May, 52 new villages were covered comprising of 2835 Households.

THE PROJECT RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Rationale:

West Khasi Hills represents a unique socio-cultural framework and faces a unique set of problems. The impact of development initiatives has generally fallen short of expectation. The design and implementation of development programmes within the district have not taken into account as expected. Jhum cultivation continues but most of the families considered this practice is no longer a sustainable livelihood system with its impact on declining soil fertility as a result shortening of jhum cycle. However, the communities lack knowledge or conviction of alternative development options and the means to adopt them.

The role and activities of the IFAD Project has been effectively targeted a new approach to development focusing on technically appropriate, institutionally feasible, environmentally sound, economically viable and sustainable.

The new approach will be community demand driven, farmer oriented and accorded due recognition for their indigenous knowledge and capabilities. This new intervention would also emphasise transparency and accountability.

The overall target of project is to develop self-reliant community institutions, food security and strengthening the involvement of women to manage and sustain further development in the long term.

Objectives:

The overall objective will be to improve the livelihood of vulnerable groups in a sustainable manner through improved management of their resource base in a way that contributes to protecting and restoring the environment.

The specific objectives will be:

·        To promote a more sensitive approach to the design and implementation of development interventions.

·        To enhance the capabilities of local people to manage new technologies and institutions at the village level.

·        To increase incomes through the development of more sustainable farming systems and the establishment of non-farm enterprises.

·        To make people more aware of the need to preserve and regenerate natural resources, particularly forests and biodiversity.

·        To establish effective and appropriate delivery systems for inputs (credit, extension, etc.) and for the maintenance of assets and resources.

·        To increase the participation of women in local institutions and in decision-making processes within the community.

·        To enhance savings capacity and establish the habit of thrift.

·        To increase access to basic services and infrastructure facilities.

Project District Profile:

The activities at the district level are implemented by the DST through the 8 partner NGOs, viz. Bosco Reach Out, KJP Assembly – SELDA, Seijlieh Rambrai Sports Club, Western Cultural Socio Welfare Association, Maharam Syiemship Development Society, Western Youth Welfare Organisation, Lumnongseij Nongstoin Town Area Multi Rural Development Society and Seng Samla Diskiang New Mawbuit. The villages taken under the Project are Umtynru, Nongmawlieh, Maweit, Camino Mawblang, Nongdhar, Nonglamjew, Mawrynniaw, Miangkain, Nongkhusba, Nongshilliang, Porksai, Pyndengmawlieh, Thawkhong, Langshongthiang, Riangka, Mawlai, Jaiaw, Snaram, Iawnaw, Mawlong, Mawkhyllon, Mawguru, Langdongdai, Lumsohsan, Porskhen, Poriu, Mawsmai, Hawei, Madanjira, Dubir, Jakhong, Shilliangbir, Sohram, Sohpie, Khlawmyrriaw, Umsa, Umpongdeng, Umiing, Mawiong, Umriah, Aswit, Poriew, Porkrong, Mawterang, Riangthiej, Upper Nongkyndang, Nongkyndang, Nongpdeng, Mawkumkha, Nongdiengkain, Nonglang, Nongkrem, Mawlum Sepngi, Sddadukhi, Ladpnarthymmai, Nongpriang, Urksew, Sohbsein, Mawthir, Khynrin, Pungphreit, Mawdoh, Umiong, Siejlieh (Rambrai), Mawthaw, Mawrang, Marshiang, Mainop, Japung, Mawlait, Mawpon, Risiang, Nongtraw, Wahlyngdoh, Umthli, Rimyniar, Diengsning, Mawriat, Nongkaniang, Riangpoit, Ngunraw A, Ngunraw B, Rangjadong, Kensimphlang, Keniong, PhotJaud, Tynnai, Pyndenlyngdoh, Pyndensohlang, Manad, Mawbidong, Lummawbah, Nongeitser, Mawrap, Ur-ka -Sniang Nonglang, Phlangkynshi East, Phlangkynshi West, Mawkohphet, Domtynrong, Mawksiar, Mawmerang, Rangthong, Photjaud Rangthong, Phlangjaud Mawtangdiar, Pyndenmawlieh, Jadap, Ritrai, Mawnohshnong, Mawlum, Mawdemkhla, Mawbahpaliar, Lumsohphoh, Jadoh, Nongsohma, Domdiang, Nongktieh, Nongbah, Domsohkhai, Nongkdait-Nongnah, Nongkdait-Nongtwah, Thangrai, Dirang, Khatphra mile, Mawlongbah, Photeitsim, NongKhyllang, Mawdiangkper, Sohmynthar, Domkyrkoh, Domshohksoin, Ramsngiwar, Mawmluh, Mawiawtep, Diskiang, Lawdibah, Nongrait, Lum Myrsiang, Phudumbah, Tihdang, Mawbyrkong, Nongeit Thamah, Mawphanlur, Tyllang, Mawpat, Umniangriang, Lawkynter, Mawpen, Nongrathaw, Porjaslar, Mawdonglang, Umkait, Agriang, Myndo, Umdum, Domkseh, Mawkhan, Mawpon, Umjakoit, Marwir, Dombah, Mawjahksew and Mawkohnoh.

THE DISTRICT SUPPORT TEAM

The different project activities are entrusted to the personnel of KCRMS which is spear-headed by Mr. James T. Kharkongor, Project Manager.

THE DISTRICT SOCIETY

The Board of Management (BoM) is entrusted with handling policy matters relating to the District Society. The The Deputy Commissioner is the Chairman of the Society and the Project Manager is the Member Secretary. The members are officers from different line departments, representatives from partner NGO and from the beneficiaries.

ACTIVITIES AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE PROJECT

During the last six months, the fund flow from the Regional Society had improved by a large extent as compared to the previous years and this can be reflected in the timely implementation of the activities at the ground level. The strategically implemented activities can broadly be classified as follows:

1. Community Institution Building
2. Village Development Fund
3. Village and Social Sector Infrastructure
4. NRM Activities

Some of the institutions which play a vital role in the project are the partner NGOs, Natural Resource Management Groups, Self Help Groups, NaRM-G Cluster Associations and SHG Federations.

There are altogether 8 partner NGOS and till filing this report there are 162 NaRM-Gs, 380 SHGs, 11 clusters associations and 10 SHG federations. 

Grading of Institutions

The performance of all these institutions are strictly monitored and graded accordingly. The summary of the grading is shown below:

*The number of NGOs may appear more as one NGO may supervise more than one cluster and their performance   is gauged cluster-wise

**Majority of the Ungraded NaRM-Gs and SHGs are those of the new villages selected during the expansion phase

‘A’ graded SHGs are the best performing SHGs and ‘C’ is the worst performing. The format of grading for the SHGs is at par with that of the NABARD format. SHG grading is usually conducted once in six months and for NaRM-Gs and partner NGOs once a year. For those SHGs with ‘C’ grade three months grace is given upon which they have to improve their performance. For more transparency and unbiased grading cross grading is also conducted in which the supervising NGO of one cluster is entrusted with grading the SHGs of another cluster which is supervised by a different NGO. As far as NaRM-G cluster associations and SHG federations are concerned, grading parameters are yet to be devised to monitor their performance and achievements.

Wealth ranking

The cluster-wise wealth ranking that was conducted in 2004-2005 is given below:

This table depicts the distribution of wealth ranking cluster wise. Here also it may be seen that those villages taken during the initial stages of the Project has more or less uniformity in the distribution of the wealth ranking.

Trainings:

Some of the trainings conducted by the project are as follows:

·         Participatory Impact Monitoring (PIM) Training

·         Financial Training

·         Monitoring and Evaluation Training

·         Agriculture/ Horticulture/Veterinary Trainings

·         Skill development training

These includes trainings given to masons of project village on construction of low Cost latrine and spring tapped chambers construction, which are part of the Social and Infrastructure activities of the villages.